alrighty then. I have had a dz or so hens for over 2 years now. I have had the battle of wills in breaking broody hens. This go round they (3) would not let go or back down. It has been well over a month. Really cutting into the number of eggs I get. All 3 hens were not budging. My Olive egger -Olive( I know you are thinking no imagination but she is named after one of my mother’s sisters. ) is particularly pushy,bossy and mildly aggressive. I knew she would be a great momma. She turned into a charging elephant that growled like a tiger when anyone would come near when she became brood monster. My speckled Sussex, Myrtle (named for my grandma) was not nearly the charger or growler as Olive is but persistent all the same. Now my 3rd one Opal (also a family name) is a BIG beautiful sweet Black Cochin. She is the quite silent type. Very gentle. Well I broke down and put golf balls under them to see if they were truly serious. Yep. Olive turned into more of an attacking t-Rex Myrtle became more of the protective type and Opal stopped leaving the nest. I went to Rural King and picked up 1/2 dz chicks all from the same bin. Listed Ameracauna but we all know they are EE’s . So I picked 6 different patterned ones . I thought I would distribute them under the mommas and everyone would be happy. So at 1 am I got up pulled out the gold balls and placed the chicks under each momma. I hoped for the best and expected the worst. I went out at dawn the mommas were softly talking to the babies. Food and water is directly in front of the nesting boxes ( all on the floor. ) I went out later in the AM and Olive had stolen all the babies. I startled the babies when I stepped in and the ran into the middle box( closest) Opal was in there Olive proceeded to climb in too. Poor Myrtle is left with out any baby of her own. And Opal is forced to share. As the day progressed Myrtle was not having zero access to babies so she joined in with the other 2. I had removed the front of that box as it was so stuffed with babies and mommas. So now all 3 are happily tri-parenting the babies. All 3 are quietly talking to all the babies and showing them how to be chickens . Momma team.
